More Employed in the Second Quarter in Colorado
There were a lot more Coloradans working during the second quarter this year than previously thought. That's according to new job numbers released by the Colorado department of labor and employment.
The agency compares the actual number of jobs to previous estimates... And after double checking jobs held in April, May, and June, officials say there were big jumps in workers, especially in the trades, transportation, and utilities sectors.
On the flip side, there were fewer hospitality jobs than expected.
Busy Food Banks
It’s been a busy fall for food banks in the Roaring Fork Valley. Coordinated by a nonprofit called Lift Up, volunteers put together holiday baskets for residents in need.
Kim Loving is Executive Director of the Rifle based organization, which services communities from Parachute to Aspen. She says more than nine hundred families signed up for a basket delivered in the last few weeks—or one for later in the holidays.
“We’ll put things for pumpkin pie, you know some vegetables. Just those traditional items that everybody likes to fix for the holidays.”
But they’ve had to get creative about providing the main dish… because they can’t put turkeys in the baskets.
“We purchase meat certificates through city market. So they’ll get a meet certificate in that basket to go purchase their own. The logistics of buying that many turkeys might be a little hard.”
Loving says about the same number of families have been getting help from the food banks compared to the need last fall. But Lift Up is considering expanding the number of times someone can pick up free food. Right now the cap is four visits, and it may be moved up to six next year.
Snowmass Opening Day
Snowmass is the next ski resort to open in the Roaring Fork Valley. Its opening more than 500 acres to skiing and riding today [thanksgiving]...including terrain like The Burn, Sam’s Knob and Upper Campground. Six lifts will operate...and a rail jam competition called “Thanksjibbing” will start at 2 o’clock at Base Village.
Aspen Mountain opened Saturday but additional terrain will open today. Sunlight Mountain Resort is scheduled to open earlier than planned tomorrow. Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk will open on December 13th.
Glenwood Spring Eagles Welcome You to Dinner
For those without a place to go this Thanksgiving, the Eagles Club in Glenwood Springs is opening its doors. Every year the club hosts a free Thanksgiving dinner that attracts hundreds of people.
This year the Eagles Club is preparing 35 turkeys, 200 pounds of potatoes, 80 pounds of dressing and more than 95 pumpkin pies. The charitable organization started the dinner three decades ago with just one turkey.
The food is donated and the dinner is held at the Eagles’ clubhouse downtown. Deliveries are made to those stuck at home. Dawn Hayes is an organizer.
“It is aimed at both people in need or people who are alone for the holidays. You don’t have to be homeless or in dire need to come and join us at our dinner table. If you’re alone and want to spend time and socialize with people for the holidays, come on down.”
She’s expecting between 400 and 600 people. The doors open at 10 o’clock on Thanksgiving morning.
Ski Co’s New Ideas, Art
One of the ways the Aspen Skiing Company says it sets itself apart from its competitors is through its arts program. Since 2005, the Company has been collaborating with the Aspen Art Museum for a program called “Art in Unexpected Places.” Part of the program features artwork on lift tickets. Aspen Public Radio’s Marci Krivonen jumped aboard the silver queen gondola to talk with Ski-Co CEO Mike Kaplan.
